Richard (Rick) George Bushman, 65, died June 12, 2015 at St Luke’s Hospital, Denver, Colorado, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Rick was born September 21, 1949 in Dixon, Illinois, the son of Edmund Delphin and Loyola Rose (Scanlan) Bushman.
Rick graduated from Newman Central Catholic High School, Sterling, Illinois in 1968 and from Sauk Valley Community College in 1971 with an Associates Degree in automotive repair. After graduating from college, Rick moved to Rochelle, Illinois where he met and later married Barbara Louise Castenson. They were married at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Rochelle on June 4, 1977.
Rick held a variety of jobs throughout his life, including the following: lead line worker at Del Monte Canning, Rochelle, Illinois; fork lift operator at Pre-stressed Cement Plant, Rochelle; Cotton Compress, Phoenix, Arizona; and as a fork lift operator and in the parts department at Wood Brothers, Oregon, Illinois for 19 years. After he moved to Denver, Colorado, in 1997, he began working at 2M Company delivering industrial piping, tanks and submersible pumps for water well contractors and drillers all over Colorado and Wyoming. He drove more than one million miles in 16 years. He retired from 2M in 2013.
Rick was a member of the Palmyra Hillbillies 4-H Club for many years and showed Registered Holsteins as well as other projects. He was a diehard Chicago Bears football fan, collected baseball and football cards, and loved keeping in touch with family and friends. Rick could often be found attending the various sporting events of his nieces and nephews. Rick was also a very dedicated sports fan of his high school alma mater, Newman Central Catholic High School. He followed their football team faithfully and made several trips to watch games over the years. He was a big guy with a gentle heart and never met a stranger that he didn’t like.
Surviving is his wife, of Denver, Colorado; three brothers: Joseph Edmund (Maria Elena) Bushman, Herndon, Virginia; Edmund John (Christine Marie) Bushman, Prescott, Arizona; Robert Steven (Betty Jolene (BJ), Bushman, Aurora, Colorado; and sisters, Patricia Ann (George Frederick) Perkins, Normal, Illinois and Joan Marie Biagioni, Sterling, Illinois; and three brothers-in law: David, Wayne, Ronald Castenson and one sister -in -law, Edith Castenson Pfeiffer. He is also survived by 18 nieces and nephews: Christina Marie (Todd Anderson) Goldman, Linnette Diane (Daniel Joseph) Vasquez, Sarah Nicole (William Matthew) Brown, Dana Marie (Benjamin Lawrence) Hoffman, Melissa Ruth (Dean Michael) Gascoigne, Joshua Allen Biagioni, Amy Lynn Biagioni, Sandra Maria (Aaron Scott) Adams, Jamison John Bushman, Kellyn Elizabeth (Abraham Lee) DuBois, Jonathan Christopher (Lacie Marie) Bryan, Elisabeth Ashley Willingham, Cayla Rose Bushman, Robyn Leigh Bushman, Danae Joy Bushman, Ryan Michael Schroeder, Adam Fredrick Schroeder, Craig Robert Schroeder and 21 great nieces and nephews: Elaine Catherine (Ellie) Goldman, Anderson Joseph Goldman, Crawford Todd Goldman, Mary Catalina Vasquez, Vincent Joseph Vasquez, Ava Madeline Brown, Logan Andrew Brown, Liam David Matthew Brown, Morgan Elizabeth Hoffman, Aiden Lawrence Hoffman, Deanna Mackenzie Gascoigne, Devin Michael Gascoigne, Benjamin Lawrence (Danielle) Hoffman, Julia Leigh Hoffman, Emma Kay Marie Dougherty, Oakleigh Marie Adams, Cypress Leo Adams, Abraham Lee Dubois, Edmund Lee Dubois, Cory Alexander Bryan, Connor Nicholas Bryan, and a great- great-niece and nephew: Bradyn Lee Scott Hoffman and Annabelle Hoffman.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Gerald James Bushman and one nephew, Matthew Robert Bushman.
Advantage Aurora Chase Mortuary is assisting the family with final arrangements. A memorial service will be held in Dixon, Illinois in August. Further details will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Barbara to offset expenses incurred in Rick’s final months and to Newman Central Catholic High School Athletic Department would be appreciated.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18